Hosta plant named ‘White Triumphator’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Hosta plant named ‘White Triumphator’, characterized by its medium green leaf color; relatively compact growth habit; and white-colored flowers that are positioned above the foliage on strong, straight and erect scapes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hostaplant, botanically known as Hosta rectifolia, and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name White Triumphator.

The new Hosta is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in a controlled environment in Noordwijk, The Netherlands.The new Hosta was discovered and selected by the Inventor in a seed bedof sown seed from various crosses of unidentified Hosta rectifoliaselections. The new Hosta was selected in 1993 as an individual seedlingon the basis of its straight scapes, the length of its scapes and uniquewhite-colored flowers.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by divisions harvested inNoordwijk, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of thisnew Hosta are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar White Triumphator have not been observed underall possible environmental and cultural conditions. The phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, daylength, irrigation amount and frequency, and/or fertilizerrate without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘White Triumphator’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘White Triumphator’ as a newand distinct cultivar:

1. Medium green leaf color.

2. Relatively compact growth habit.

3. White-colored flowers that are positioned above the foliage onstrong, straight and erect scapes.

Plants of the new Hosta can be compared to plants of the variegatedHosta rectifolia cultivar Tall Boy, not patented. Compared to plants ofthe cultivar Tall Boy, plants of the new Hosta have straight scapes, aremore proportional, and have white-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hosta, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which more accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Hosta.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘White Triumphator’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowersof ‘White Triumphator’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for the followingdescription were about 40 weeks old and grown in containers under fieldconditions which closely approximate commercial production conditionsduring the spring and summer in Noordwijk, The Netherlands.

Botanical classification: Hosta rectifolia cultivar White Triumphator.

Parentage: Cross-pollination of unidentified selections of Hostarectifolia, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—By divisions.

Rooting time.—Divisions harvested in the spring develop roots in about40 days at 15 to 20° C.

Root description.—Fleshy.

Plant description:

Form.—Perennial flowering plant; initailly upright becoming outwardlyarching as leaves develop; inverted triangle. Moderately clumping:Appropriate for 17-cm containers.

Crop time.—After rooting, about 40 weeks are required to producefinished flowering plants in 17-cm containers.

Plant height.—From soil level to top of leaf plane: About 40 cm. Fromsoil level to top of flowering stems: About 100 cm.

Plant diameter.—About 60 cm.

Vigor.—Moderately vigorous.

Foliage description.—Leaves basal, simple, generally symmetrical, andlong-persisting. Length: About 18 cm. Width: About 11 cm. Shape: Ovate.Apex: Acute to abruptly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture:Glabrous, dull to slightly glossy. Petiole: Length: About 22 cm.Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Color: Young foliage and petiole, upper surface:137A to 146A. Young foliage and petiole, lower surface: 191A. Maturefoliage and petiole, upper surface: 144A to 146B. Mature foliage andpetiole, lower surface: 191A to 191B.

Flower description:

Appearance.—Single campanulate to funnelform flowers with fused periantharranged on one-sided racemes. Flowering stems arise from leaf axils.Typically two flowering stems per plant. Flowers persistent.

Quantity of flowers.—About 20 flowers per raceme.

Natural flowering season.—Summer in the Netherlands; floweringcontinuous.

Fragrance.—Very faint, sweet, pleasant.

Flower longevity.—About 4 to 7 days.

Flower size.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 5 cm.

Flower buds (about 3 days before opening).—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter:About 8 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Color: Base, 155C; apex, 155A.

Perianth.—Arrangement: Three interior and three exterior tepals; fused.Tepal length: About 5 cm. Tepal width: About 1.2 cm. Tepal shape:Elongated; apex, acute; margin, entire. Tepal texture: Smooth; glabrous.Tepal color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 155D.Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 155D; with development,155C.

Floral bracts.—Arrangement: At pedicel base. Length: About 2 cm. Width:About 8 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Color: 145C to 145D.

Pedicel.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Angle: Erect to about 50 to 60° fromvertical; bent with weight of flower. Strength: Moderate to strong.Color: 155A to 155C.

Scape.—Length: About 60 cm. Aspect: Mostly upright; straight. Texture:Smooth; glaucous. Color: 138B to 139C.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Six; dorsifixed. Anther size:About 3 by 1 mm. Anther color: 15B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pistils:Quantity: One. Pistil length: About 4 cm. Style length: About 3.8 cm.Style color: 150D; base, 145B. Stigma color: 160C. Ovary color: 145A.

Seed description.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Color:Almost black.

Disease resistance: Plants of the new Hosta have not been noted to beresistant to pathogens common to Hosta.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hosta plant named‘White